GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Montana: MT-23
Montana Historical Society. Research Library and Photo Archives
225 North Roberts Street
P.O. Box 201201
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: 406-444-2681
Alternate search: See Northwest Digital Archives online
Hours: Library/Archives and Photograph Archives: See website
Access: No restrictions
Copying facilities: Yes
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: 1863-1994, undated
Volume: Ca. 1 cubic foot
Description: 12 manuscript and 23 photography collections include Native Catholic records.
Manuscript Collections:
/1 “Catherine Belgarde Interview, OH 1894”
Inclusive dates: 1980
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Includes experiences at St. Peter’s Mission (Siksika), Montana.
/2 “Joseph M. Cataldo Letters, SC 80”
Inclusive dates: 1887
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: 2 handwritten petitions (copies), one in French, to Rev. Joseph M. Cataldo, S.J. [Jesuits] (1837-1928) from citizens of Helena, Montana, requesting that the Jesuits establish a Catholic college in Helena; from the Jesuit Oregon Province Archives, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington.
/3 “Pierre-Jean De Smet Papers, SC 620”
Inclusive dates: 1863, 1866
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Letters of James Hainson to Rev. Pierre-Jean De Smet, S.J. [Jesuits] (1801-1873), 1866; Rev. De Smet (in French) to Rev. Mother Superior [possibly of the Sisters of Charity of Providence] in Washington Territory, 1863; and Rev. De Smet at Fort McKenzie to possibly Andrew Dawson, 1863.
/4 “General Montana History Collection”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1968, 1983, 1993-1994
Volume: Ca. .1 cubic foot
Description:
A. OH 1652: “Art Carrier (1918-1993) Interview,” 1993, 42-page transcript; re: includes boarding school life [Siksika] at Holy Family Mission, Blackfeet Reservation, Montana
B. OH 1514: “Evelyn Sloan Webster (1903-1996) Interview,” 1983, 1 audiotape and 2-page summary; re: includes boarding school life [Salish, Kootenai] at St. Ignatius Mission, Flathead Reservation, St. Ignatius, Montana
C. OH 1388: “Mother Amata Dunne [O.S.U.] Interview,” ca. 1968, 1 audiotape; re: her life as a nun
D. OH 1653: “Richard Kenck (1906-2002) Interview,” 1994, 35-pages transcript; re: includes boarding school life at St. Peter’s Mission (Siksika), Montana
/5 “Montana Attorney General's Office Records, Collection RS 76”
Inclusive dates: 1953
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Box 102, Folder 122, re: Josephine Cannon Estate, Billings, with bequest to the Little Flower Church, Blackfeet Reservation, Browning, Montana.
/6 “Montana Office of Public Instruction Records, Collection RS 147”
Inclusive dates: 1949-1953, 1958-1964
Volume: Ca. .1 cubic foot
Description: Includes enrollment statistics for Catholic schools serving American Indians in Montana.
/7 “New Deal in Montana/ Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project, OH 1162”
Inclusive dates: 1989
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: “Mae Takes Gun Childs Interview,” 1989, 1 audiotape and 13-page transcript; re: includes experiences of Takes Gun Childs (Crow, 1894-1995) at St. Xavier School, Crow Reservation, with the Ursulines.
/8 “Owen, John Papers, Collection MC 44”
Inclusive dates: 1850
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Box 2, Folder 4 includes a bill of sale for St. Mary Mission lands, Stevensville, Montana, purchased from the Jesuits by Owen (1818-1889).
/9 “Ravalli, Anthony Papers, SC 679”
Inclusive dates: 1884
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: An undated manuscript in Latin and a letter to Narcissa Caldwell by Rev. Anthony Ravalli, S.J. [Jesuits] (1812-1884).
/10 “Mabel Pepin Salois Interview, OH 1887”
Inclusive dates: 1995
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description: Early 20th century experiences at Holy Family Mission School (Siksika) and the Blackfeet Reservation with retold reminiscences from her mother that include the 1885 rebellion led by Louis Riel (MĂ©tis).
/11 Small Town Montana Oral History Project Inclusive dates: 1984
Volume: Ca. .05 cubic foot
Description:
A. OH 829: “Lucille L. Durocher Interview,” 1984, 1 audiotape and 2-page summary; includes relationships between churches in Cut Bank, her involvement in St. Margaret Church, and changes in Catholic practices
B. OH 834: “Wilbur Werner Interview” 1984, 2 audiotapes and 4-page summary; includes relationships between the non-Indian community in Cut Bank, the Blackfeet Reservation, and St. Margaret Church, ca. 1930s-1980s
/12 “Society of Jesus Religious Text, 1900, SC 2400”
Inclusive dates: 1900
Volume: .1 cubic foot
Description: The New and Old Testaments in the Crow Indian Language (with copy) by an unidentified Jesuit; from St. Xavier Mission, Crow Reservation, Montana.
Photograph Collections:
/13 “Amadeus, Rev. Mother, #940-349”
Inclusive dates: 1884
Volume: 1 print
Description: Founding mother superior of the Ursulines in Montana.
/14 “Beckx, Peter, #940-831”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: Rev. Peter Beckx, S.J. [Jesuits]
/15 “Brings, William J. Collection, Lot 10”
Inclusive dates: 1908-1909
Volume: 48 prints
Description: Crow Indians at St. Xavier Mission, Crow Reservation, Montana.
/16 “Cataldo, Joseph M., #941-472”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: Rev. Joseph M. Cataldo, S.J. [Jesuits]
/17 “Cataldo Mission, Idaho, #940-936-937”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1929
Volume: 2 prints
Description: Sacred Heart Mission, Coeur d’Alene Reservation, Cataldo, Idaho.
/18 “DeSmet, Pierre Jean, #941-955-959”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 4 prints and 1 engraving
Description: Rev. Pierre-Jean de Smet, S.J. [Jesuits]
/19 “Dumont, Gabriel, #944-022-023”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1885
Volume: 2 prints
Description: MĂ©tis.
/20 “Fort Belknap Agency Collection, #955-360-404”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1900
Volume: 2 prints
Description: Assiniboine and Atsina Indians and St. Paul Mission, Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana.
/21 “Huffman, Laton Alton Collection, #981-054-057, 981-220-222”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 2 prints
Description: Cheyenne Indians and St. Labre School, Ashland, Montana, near Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
/22 “McBride, Sister G. Collection, Pac87-47”
Inclusive dates: 1880-1900
Volume: 5 prints
Description: Siksika Indians, Ursulines, and St. Peter’s Mission, Montana.
/23 “Palladino, Lawrence Benedict, #944-255”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: Rev. Lawrence Palladino, S.J. [Jesuits]
/24 “Ravalli, Anthony, #944-496-499”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 4 prints
Description: Rev. Anthony Ravalli, S.J.
/25 “Riel, Louis, Tomb of, #944-566 and 944-568”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 2 prints
Description: MĂ©tis.
/26 “Riel Rebellion, 1885, 944-569-572”
Inclusive dates: 1940
Volume: 4 prints
Description: St. Anthony Church, wagon trail, and MĂ©tis graves.
/27 “St. Ignatius Mission, 950-719-739”
Inclusive dates: 1867-1960
Volume: 20 prints
Description: St. Ignatius Mission (Salish, Kootenai), Flathead Reservation, St. Ignatius, Montana.
/28 “St. Mary Mission, 950-742-759”
Inclusive dates: 1916-1974
Volume: 17 prints
Description: St. Mary Mission (Salish), Stevensville, Montana.
/29 “St. Mary Mission, Pac 98-79”
Inclusive dates: 1948
Volume: 17 prints
Description: St. Mary Mission (Salish), Stevensville, Montana.
/30 “St. Paul’s Mission, 950-760-768”
Inclusive dates: 1900-1954
Volume: 9 prints
Description: St. Paul’s Mission (Assiniboine, Atsina, Métis), Fort Belknap Reservation, Hays, Montana.
/31 “St. Peter’s Mission, Pac 74-104.279 GP”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: St. Peter’s Mission (Siksika, Métis), Montana.
/32 “Catholic Church at St. Paul’s Mission, Pac 74-109.207 GP”
Inclusive dates: undated
Volume: 1 print
Description: St. Paul’s Mission (Assiniboine, Atsina, Métis), Fort Belknap Reservation, Hays, Montana.
/33 “Catholic Church at St. Paul’s Mission, Pac 92-59 Album”
Inclusive dates: 1889
Volume: 1 print
Description: In album; St. Paul’s Mission (Assiniboine, Atsina, Métis), Fort Belknap Reservation, Hays, Montana.
/34 “St. Xavier Mission, 950-800-805”
Inclusive dates: ca. 1890-1954
Volume: 6 prints
Description: St. Xavier Mission (Crow), Crow Reservation, Montana.
Unless otherwise noted, the repository on this page holds (or held) the records described here and they are not held at the ĂŰĚŇÓ°Ďń Archives.
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